Cash-register



(ModeL) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. R. P. THOMPSON. CASH REGISTER.

Patented June 19, 1894.

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A TTOHNEYJ (ModeL) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

R. P. THOMPSON.

CASH REGISTER.

No. 521,558. Patented June 19, 1894.

ATTORN EYJ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RALPH P. THOMPSON, OF SPRINGFIELD, ASSIGNOR TO O. W. PRICE, OF GREENFIELD, OHIO.

CASH-REGISTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 521,558, dated June 19, 1894.

7 Application filed March 18, 1893. Serial No. 466,602- (ModeL) To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH P. THOMPSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Cash-Registers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of cash registering devices in which anormally closed cash receptacle is arranged in connection with registering devices to register the amounts placed in said receptacle.

The object of my invention is to provide means, the operation of which prevents the locking of the cash receptacle until a registration has been effected by the operation of one or more of the registering devices. I attain these objects by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar elevation illustrating a modification. Fig. 3 is a detail, showing a further slight modification. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation, showing the drawer open and a key operated. Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view, illustrating the same parts as in Fig. 3, with the drawer open and the keys in their normal position.

Like parts are represented by similar letters of reference in the several views.

In the said drawings a a, represent an outer casing.

11, is the cash receptacle, which is preferably in the form of a sliding drawer, adapted, when released, to be forced outwardly and thus opened by a spring I). The drawer is locked in a closed position by a pivoted locking bar 0, adapted to engage with a lug or projection c, on the drawer. This locking bar 0, is adapted to be operated by'a lever d, pivoted at d, and having a handle d projecting through the casing; a projection d on said lever being adapted to contact with a projection 0 on the locking bar to raise said bar out of contact with the lug or projection 0, when the handle 01 is operated. A series of operatinglevers 6, preferably provided at one end with the ordinary indicating tablet e, and at the opposite end with a numbered key e are also arranged within the casing and preferably employed in connection with any of the well known cash registering devices, such, for instance, as illustrated at g, in Fig. 4 to cause the properregistration of the amounts deposited in the cash receptacle in a well known manner. The constructions thus described form no part of my invention and any of the well known devices now in use may be employed. In connection with these devices I employ an intermediate device adapted to be operated by any one of the keys in the series; saidintermediate device being adapted to prevent the locking of the drawer until one or more of the key levers are depressed. This result is preferably accomplished by interfering with the operation of the locking device of the drawer. This is preferably accomplished by providing a bar f, extending entirely across the series of keys 6. This bar may be supported by suitable arms f, pivoted in the casing at f and provided with a downwardly projecting fingerf adapted to engage with an upwardly projecting spur or finger 0 on the locking bar 0, and thus hold the locking bar out of contact with the drawer when the keys are all in the normal position and until it is released by the raising of the bar f, which can only be accomplished by the operation of a key.

In most of the cash registers now in use the amounts last registered are indicated by the elevated tablets which remain in this elevated position until the drawer is again opened or other keys operated, and it is to this class of registers that the device illustrated in Fig. 1 is particularly adapted; the operating key or keys being adapted to hold the barf, in the elevated position and out of contact with the locking bar during the time the drawer remains closed. Ihave illustrated a similar method of accomplishing this result by providing a lug or projection 6 on each of the lovers 6, adapted to engage a similar lug or support 61 on the lock operating lever d. When a key is depressed the lug e comes against the corresponding projection d, which retains it in an elevated position until the handle 01 is operated to release the drawer, at which time the same movement releases all the keys which are in an elevated position, thus bringing the bar f, and the intermediate connected devices in position to retain the lock out of engagement with the drawer until a key is again depressed, so as to elevate the bar as before.

In that class of registering devices in which the keys are returned to their normal position by the closing of the drawer, a loose connection should be formed between the barf, and the locking bar 0, which will permit the barf, to return to its normal position while the locking bar is in its normal position. This may be accomplished as shown in Fig. 3 by placing a pivoted intermediate finger f between the projection f and the projection 0 said finger being adapted to engage the locking bar as shown in Fig. 5 whenever the same is operated to release the drawer,- and hold it so engaged until the finger is withdrawn therefrom by the elevation of the bar f, which brings the projection f in contact with the finger f and thus releases the looking bar.

The finger f under ordinary conditions, is preferably operated by gravity, as shown in Fig. 3, though if desired a'spring may be attached thereto, as shown in Fig. 5, to return it to its normal position. The same is true of the levers (1 these constructed to return to their normal position by gravity. In Fig. 4 springs are shown employed for efiecting this result; but

the operation is the same in either case, and it is my intention to employ either construction as may seem the best adapted to the circumstances under which the machine is to operate.

InFig. 2 I have shown a modification in which the projection 0 on the locking bar isdispensed with; the drawer in this case beingunlocked by the dropping of the bar f, whenever the keys are moved to their normal position, by operating the lever d; the weight of the bar f, being sufficient to elevate the locking bar 0.

It is obvious that various modifications may be employed for carrying out my invention. I do not, therefore, limit myself to the exact constructions shown and described; but

I claim broadly as'my invention- 1. In a cash register, a normally locked cash receptacle, a series of operating keys, means for unlocking said receptacle independent of the operation of said keys, and means for preventing the relocking of said cash receptacle until one or more of said keys have been operated, substantially as specified.

2. In a cash register, a normally closed cash drawer or receptacle and operating keys,

' controlling devices by the operation of which the opening of said drawer or receptacle is In Figs. 1 and 2 I have shown effected, and mechanism connected to said keys to prevent the return of said drawer or receptacle to its normal condition until a key has been operated, substantially as specified.

3. In a cash register, a cash receptacle, a series of operating keys, and mechanism the operation of which effects the opening of said receptacle, a retaining device released by the operation of said mechanism and when so released prevents the locking of said cash receptacle in its closed position until said retaining device has been acted upon by the operation of a key, substantially as specified.

4. In a cash register, the combination with the registering keys and the cash drawer or receptacle, as described, an intermediate engaging device adapted to be released by the unlocking of said drawer or receptacle so as to contact with the locking mechanism and prevent the re-locking of said drawer or receptacle, said engaging device being connected with said keys so as to be returned to its normal position by the depression of a key, substantially as specified.

5. In a cash register, the combination with the cash drawer, of a catch for holding the drawer closed, a series of keys, a lever, and

connections whereby the operation of one or more of said keys throws the catch into position to engage the drawer, and the operation of said lever disengages the catch'from the drawer, substantially as set forth.

6. In a cash register, the combination with a cash drawer, of a catch for holding the drawer closed, a series of keys, aconnection whereby the operation of one or more of said keys throws the catch into position to engage the drawer, means for disengaging the catch from the drawer, and means for preventing the catch from engaging the drawer'again until one or more of said keys have been operated, substantially as set forth.

7. In a cash register, the combination with the cash drawer, of a catch for holding the drawer closed, a series of keys, a lever, and connections whereby the operation of one or more of said keys throws the catch into position to engage the drawer, and the operation of said lever disengages the catch from the drawer, and means to prevent the catch, after the operation of said lever, from engaging the drawer again until one or more of said keys have been operated, substantially asset forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 11th day of March, A. D. 1893.

RALPH P. THOMPSON. 

